Hout- en Meubileringscollege

The Hout- en Meubileringscollege (HMC – the Wood and Furniture College) in Amsterdam Sloterdijk is being renovated and expanded with a new building. The upgraded HMC will serve as a showcase for wood technology, making it a flagship for the school.

Showcasing wood

The new building, which will adjoin the current HMC premises, will be constructed largely from wood, featuring timber columns, beams and façades. The woodworking machines and the most beautiful graduation projects will be prominently displayed in the new building. A new atrium in the existing structure will connect the new extension to the original building. This central heart of the HMC will bring everything and everyone together: woodworking, interior design, upholstery, and furniture making.

Maximising reuse

The existing building will remain as intact as possible. The lifts and staircases will be retained and will also serve the new building, giving the extension five fully customisable floors. Construction materials that are released during the realization of the atrium will be repurposed, for instance, in the atrium roof, in the rooftop structure on the third floor, and to reinforce the existing roofs. A roof garden will be added to the strengthened roofs, ensuring that the HMC retains its own outdoor space.

By and for the HMC Community

Within HMC, there is a lot of knowledge about wood techniques and interior design. That is why staff and students will be actively involved in the design process, both in the planning stages and during construction. This ensures the upgraded HMC will truly be a building created by and for the HMC community.